Jun 30 2008
Notes from the “Division Collision”
- As I’ve previously written, the Tampa Bay Rays are contenders. While this assertion may seem obvious given their status as the holders of the best record in the best baseball league and division in the world, for many, it’s not. The Rays possess a +56 run differential, which places them sixth in MLB, and they play in the American League East. I don’t expect them to hold off the Red Sox in the end, but I do see things staying tighter than A-Rod against the Tigers in the playoffs, and the Wild Card may find itself stuck in that boring “city” the Rays inhabit.
- Justin Masterson sure is a consistent 6 innings every time out there; in fact, he not only averages exactly 6 innings per start, he’s thrown exactly 6 in 4 of 7 appearances for the big club this year.
- The Rays utilized a whopping SIX pitchers against the Sox, and each had an ERA of 3.92 or better.
- Meanwhile, Javier Lopez continues to get it done, and this Chris Smith kid (he’s actually not really a kid, unfortunately for him, because he’s 27) has gotten by on guile and guts thus far. I’m hoping he can maintain his performance long enough to at least make enough for a down payment on a home out of it.
- Dustin Pedroia has come out of his season-long slump in the nick of time to help carry the team along with Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew (who’s starting to tail off a bit, but has been the team’s best player this season).
- Manny’s bat has looked slower than the green line lately, which is strange considering he was annihilating the ball only a short time ago.
